NEWS
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October 8, 2010 Dave Grimaldi, (202) 418-2100
dave.grimaldi@fcc.gov
STATEMENT BY FCC COMMISSIONER MIGNON L. CLYBURN
ON THE ENACTMENT OF THE EQUAL ACCESS TO 21ST CENTURY 
COMMUNICATIONS ACT
Today, I was very pleased to witness President Obama sign The Equal Access to 21st Century 
Communications Act.  This law will substantially advance an important principle that Congress 
wove into the fabric of communications policy years ago:  That individuals living with 
disabilities should be able to use the same communications services that are available to all other 
Americans.  This legislation is a strong step toward that reality.  
The Americans with Disabilities Act and the Hearing Aid Compatibility Act served to provide 
people with disabilities access to voice telephony services, but our rapid technological advances 
demand regulatory adaptation.  Today, due to tremendous innovation and investment, Americans 
are seeking much more than just voice service from their mobile handsets.  As this Act 
recognizes, consumers now expect access to video programming on their mobile phones, net 
books and other portable devices, and access to VoIP telephone service on their computers.  This 
Act will give the Commission greater statutory authority to adopt rules that will offer people 
living with disabilities greater access to video programming, and the most advanced voice and 
data services on the market, irrespective of the communications platform being used to deliver 
those services.  It also gives the Commission authority to reinstate its video description rules and 
to take measures to ensure people with disabilities have the information they need during times 
of emergency.  
I was also pleased to see that the Act directs the Commission to provide relay service support for 
the distribution of customer premises equipment to make telecommunications and related 
services accessible by individuals who are deaf and blind.  This is truly landmark legislation on 
behalf of the deaf and blind community with regard to access to communications services.
I understand that broad consensus among groups representing people living with disabilities and 
members of our communications industry played a critical role to having Congress consider and 
pass this legislation as quickly as it did.  I commend this effort.  This is a terrific example of how 
industry consensus and collaboration can play such a vital role in speeding much needed services 
to all Americans.